Trust through food

ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

If you have noticed, Activated Charcoal is currently all the rage.

Just take a look through the #activatedcharcoal hashtag on Instagram and you’ll see the proof is in the posts; from charcoal lemonade to lattes, ice cream cones to - get this - hamburger buns. At CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle, we’re offering it in our newest superfood blend, the CHARCOAL SHAKE. But before you try it for yourself, let’s define what it is and what all the hype is about.

Activated charcoal is a type of high-carbon charcoal; a byproduct made from highly heated, organic carbon sources such as wood or coconut shells. It is known for its ability to bind to certain poisons, heavy metals, and other toxins we absorb from our food and environment and flush them from your body. “Activated” by the extremely high temperatures, this process removes all the oxygen and changes its chemical structure to create much smaller particles with more surface area. It has a negative electric charge that attracts the positively charged unwanted toxins... and swiftly rids your body of them.

The result of the heat process is an odorless, tasteless edible powder that is not at all like the charcoal you’d bring to a Memorial Day BBQ 😉Add it to any food or beverage and it will change the color of your treat only. Like many popular remedies, charcoal has an extensive past and is not just a “passing fad.” In fact, activated charcoal has been used for over 10,000 years by Chinese Medicine healers, Ayurvedic practitioners and Western medicine doctors - in fact, emergency rooms all over the world have long used activated charcoal to treat poisoning.

BUT WHAT DOES IT Really HELP WITH?

GENERAL TOXIN RELEASE

DIGESTIVE ISSUES, INFLAMMATION, AND BLOATING

ADRENAL FATIGUE

BAD BREATH AND BODY ODOR

ANTI-AGING AND SKINCARE

HEART HEALTH AND POISON BINDING

Processed foods and environmental pollution are just two sources of toxins that can drain your energy completely, causing symptoms like brain fog and digestive issues. Regular use of activated charcoal helps to remove those toxins.

To counteract your body’s process of creating byproducts such as diarrhea and gas, activated charcoal enters the digestive tract and binds to byproducts. According to the National Library of Medicine, studies show activated charcoal “prevents many cellular changes associated with aging, adrenal gland, and kidney function.” It has also shown to reduce cholesterol and can be used to prevent abnormal hardening (sclerosis) in heart and coronary blood vessels.

HOW CAN I TRY ACTIVATED CHARCOAL?

As with anything new, it’s always wise to introduce dosages slowly to see how your body responds. Talk to your doctor before introducing activated charcoal into your diet if you are currently on any prescription medications or pregnant.

We are a bit obsessed with this magical powder so you can find activated charcoal at any of our CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle locations in our new CHARCOAL SHAKE: made from hand shucked young coconut meat, young coconut water & activated charcoal.

Chicago, Illinois: home to its own style of hot dog, custom blend of cheddar and caramel popcorn and, of course, deep dish pizza. Now, all things may be great in moderation – but Chicago’s long-standing reputation when it comes to food doesn’t exactly scream “healthy” or “nutrient-dense”. That’s where CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle – the Windy City’s very first 100% organic, raw cold-pressed juice bar – comes into play. Now, you may know our juice, but do you know our story?

It all began years ago, once upon a time, in a magical land called Detroit - where founders Angela and Anthony met. Anthony got caught up in a Hepatitis A outbreak – a highly contagious food borne illness that infects the liver. The virus affected him acutely and severely – temperatures up to 105 degrees, jaundice, and rheumatoid arthritis so bad he could barely walk. This resulted in what seemed like endless trips to the hospital. The only medication doctors prescribed were intended for Chemotherapy patients, to control nausea and fever. The doctors said it was one of the worst cases they had ever seen, and Anthony was told - despite his nearly unbearable symptoms – that he would need to “wait it out” for sixth months or more to overcome such a severe case. That’s where Angela (and her superfoods) came in to save the day. Six more months of watching her husband in misery? She didn’t think so.

Prior to his sickness, Anthony ate (although vegetarian) a mostly Standard American Diet. This meant his body was acidic - and his inflammatory diet, rich in dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods, only contributed to his symptoms. Always passionate about preparing healthy food for family and friends, Angela knew that she needed to flood Anthony’s body with as many nutrients from raw live produce into his body as quickly as possible to enable a speedier recovery. She did some research and realized the quickest, most efficient way to flood his body with those nutrients was via cold pressed juice. She bought a Norwalk cold pressed juicer and began juicing all organic raw vegetables and fruits. Angela and Anthony knew they were making a change, but they had no idea how impactful it would be. With that Norwalk came the next chapter of their lives – and who doesn’t love a good two-for-one deal?

The effects were immediate. Within just a few days Anthony was walking freely, fever subsided – symptom free within two weeks. Anthony felt better than ever before – even better than months prior to the original prognosis. There’s a reason they call them SUPERfoods!

Once healed, Angela and Anthony couldn’t wait to share their new-found love with their community. They refined their process day in and day out, excited to share their passion with their newly adopted home city of Chicago. Angela and Anthony explored all corners of Chicago in search of the best cold pressed juice only to realize this city is a little more invested in hot dogs and Italian beef than whole, raw, organic foods. They just couldn't find what they were looking for, so they created it. The DIY approach worked for them before, so why the heck not? Then and there, CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle was born.

CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle is the dream, concept, and creation of its founders. Anthony and Angela not only believe in their work, they live it – it is their passion, their drive, and after witnessing, first hand, the healing benefits of raw organic foods, their mission to educate and evoke new ways of thinking about the relationships we have between our health and the food we choose to put in our bodies. Each recipe has a purpose and a story. The creativity sparked in their newly adopted home city inspired each – in their own way – to delve as deeply as possible into this lifestyle to create their absolute best. And…not to toot their horn, but they also happen to be pretty dang good at it.

Since opening our doors over a year and a half ago, we have been honored to share our mission of Trust Through Food with the great city of Chicago. And we have grown into who we are today because of such enthusiastic support from our community. We are grateful for each and every one of you!

As we expand, we have decided to upgrade our name to more appropriately showcase our craft: ALL-ORGANIC – without exception – cold-pressed juice and superfood blends.

Introducing...

Rest assured, we are changing in name only… (for real, friends, nothing else is changing).

Our dedication has, and will always remain the same... total commitment to providing you with juices, blends, and foods that excite your palate, are rich in depth of flavor, and most importantly: nourish your body and soul!

We are celebrating! Stop by our cafe today from 2-6 pm and enjoy a healing shot on us!

Whether we have toasted in the past, or whether this is our first together, we look forward to seeing you.

CITY PRESS Juice & Bottle is excited to debut our NEW Goji Bowls - a delicious vegan parfait full of all-organic superfoods!

It begins with our goji berry blend which is thick and creamy in taste. We then top it off with crunchy nuts, raw granola, trail mix, superfoods and berries.

Goji Berries provide a sweet berry flavor with lower natural sugar content. Full of complete protein, these nutritious gems have been nicknamed the youth berry since they stimulate the human growth hormone. They promote healthy skin, hair and cell rejuvination. They have a calming effect on the digestive system helping with symptoms of bloating, ibs or ulcers. Packed with anti-oxidants they provide lasting energy for the day!

This high protein treat is packed with 7 superfood doses. Personalize your bowl by making your own superfood choices. Per usual, ALL ORGANIC - No Exceptions

Cheers to your Health, Xo

City Press Juice & Bottle is an all-organic small batch juicery, cafe, and market in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. We offer cold-pressed juices, superfood blends, and raw foods that are 100% organic, plant-based, live, raw, non-GMO, and gluten-free. learn more --->